Gardner Edgerton Blazers rush past Southwest in first win of season

The Gardner Edgerton High School Blazer football team celebrates its first win of the season Friday night. Photo courtesy of Daphne Pippitt

The Gardner Edgerton High School Blazer football team earned its first win of the season on Friday night. Compiling 369 rushing yards at home, the Blazer squad toppled Eastern Kansas League foe, Blue Valley Southwest High School, 37-7.
Junior running back Hunter Skeens lead the way, scoring two touchdowns and rushing for 236 yards on 22 carries. GEHS sophomore Keegan Michael added 52 yards on seven carries. He also crossed the end zone twice.

Junior quarterback Griffin Johns had 46 yards on seven carries, Zach Bass had five carries for 20 yards and a touchdown, while Matt Summerlin spelled an injured Skeens in the fourth quarter and gained 15 yards on three carries.
“We did not have many breakdowns, executed our offense well and did not allow many long yardage plays,” said GEHS Coach Marvin Diener. “We also converted for first downs.”
Following a one hour weather delay, GEHS went right to work. In the first quarter, Skeens broke a 50-yard touchdown. Kicker Austin George added the point after, and GEHS owned a 7-0 lead.
Five minutes later, GEHS was driving again. This time it was junior Zach Bass scoring on an 18- yard run around the left end. The point-after kick failed, but the Blazers owned a 13-0 lead.
Minutes later, GEHS went up 21-0 following a 28-yard run by Keegan Michael.
GEHS went up 21-0 at the 6:57 mark of the second quarter thanks to a 28 yard run by Keegan Michael. On a 35 yard run to put GEHS up 27-0, Skeens added his second touchdown with less than two minutes left before intermission.
The Blazer squad came out of the locker room firing. A George 27-yard field goal split the uprights minutes into the third quarter. Michael closed the scoring with a one yard touchdown with a little more than six minutes remaining in the game.
GEHS surrendered a late Southwest touchdown when Southwest’s Zach Glynn scored from five yards out.
Besides the rushing effort, GEHS quarterback Johns connected on two passes for 54 yards to his favorite target, Bass. The Blazer defense allowed just 227 total yards to the Jags. Sam Stranathan recovered a fumble and other top defensive performances came from linebackers Jonas Pippitt, Conner Boyt and Tyler Henry and defensive backs Jared Highfill, Kolbee Finnell, and Michael Kittleson.
Now 1-2, GEHS travels to Blue Valley West High School next week. West’s record is 1-2, and the squad is fresh from a 48-7 win over Blue Valley North High School on Friday night.